Adjustable chair



Feb. 27, 1940. I c. DE-CKER 2,191,644

ADJUSTABLE cHAIR Filed Oct. 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 27, 1940.

l. C. DECKER ADJUSTABLE CHAIR Filed Oct. 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 g 7 2' L 3% 1 w- M MANVME I Patented Feb; 27, 1940 UNITED STATES ADJUSTABLE CHAIR 1 Isaac C. Decker, Montgomery, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Philadelphia,

of the United States Pa., a corporation Application October 25, 1937, Serial No, 170,924

I 8 Claims.

The invention relates generally to chairs,

preferably those of the heavily upholstered type designed to afford maximum comfort, and primarily seeks toprovide a novel chair structure 5- embodying base elements or supporting feet constantly engaging the floor, and a rigid seat, back and arm assembly or chair body unit, shiftable on the base elements by mere exertion of body pressure by a person sitting in the chair for varying'the degree of ,tilt of said body unit,and held solely byfrictional contact of the supporting and supported elements of the chair at the various positions to which adjustments are made.

In its more detailed nature, the invention resides in the provision of a pair of longitudinal side members or supporting base elements, each provided at its respective ends with a front foot portion and a" rear foot portion, and adapted constantly to engage the floor, a forwardly and downwardly inclined supporting surface preferably but not necessarily terminating in adepression orrseat, and a rearwardly and downwardly inclined supporting surface; and a rigid chair body unit comprising a seat, back and arm assembly including at each side thereof a pair of supporting blocks spaced in' the fore and aft direction and supportedon and slidable along the supporting surfaces of the longitudinal base elements for the purpose. of adjusting the degree of tilt of the body unit.

Another objectv of the invention is to provide a chair embodying a body unit and longitudinal base elements of the character stated in which the body unit is so constructed as to present lon- 35 gitudinal grooveways in which the base elements are received and laterally supported,-and to position the centerof gravity of said unit, whether empty or occupied by a seated person, intermediately of the fore and aft spaced supporting 40 blocks, whereby an unusually stable adjustable structure will be provided in which precipitous tilting is impossible.

With the above and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a chair embody ing the invention, the chair back being illustrated in its most upright position, and the side.

member and supporting element contact being shown in dotted lines. I

Figure 2.is.a view similar to Figure 1 showing the chair back in its maximum tilted position,- a

one side rail of the seat frame being broken away along the line 22 indicated on Figure 3.

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view of the chair, one side member being removed from its supporting grooveway. 4 1

Figure 4 is a detail vertical cross section taken on the line 4-4 on Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective 'view' of one ofthe longitudinalside members or supports.

\ Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail sideelevation with the body unit in the upright position shown in Figure 1 and the side rail'removed as in Figure 2, a modified form of supporting block being shown.

In the practical development of the invention, I provide a seat, back and arm assembly forming a chair body tiltably adjustable as a rigid unit, by fore and aft sliding movement, on .a pair of side members or base elements terminating at their ends in foot portions which constantly engage the floor.'- The body unit includes a seat frame box formed of side rails 5 and fore and aft transverse rails 6, a seat upholstery supporting structure 1, rigid arm structures 8, a back frame 9, and'suitably styled heavy upholstery Hi, all of which may be conventional in form.

A supplementary side rail H is secured in spaced parallel relation adjacent each side rail 5, and each rail H and the adjacent rail 5 form therebetween a grooveway or channel l2 in which a chair body unit supporting base element is received and laterally'supported. The forward portion of the grooveway defining face of each side rail 5 iscut away or notched, as at l3, to form a grooveway enlargement which serves a purpose to be described hereinafter. About midway the I length of each grooveway l2 a supporting block I 4 is rigidly secured between the adjacent rails 5 and i l, and the supporting surfaces of these blocks are directed downwardly and are substantially semi-circular in shape, as at I5. These curved supporting portions of the blocks may be equipped with wear resisting or friction facings 16 if desired. Additional supporting blocks I! aresecured in a similar manner between and at the rear ends of the rails 5 and and these are in, the nature of segments presenting aquarter circle or less of supporting surface l8 presented downwardly and forwardly. The supporting surfaces, lalikewise may include facings I 9 if desired. See Figures 2, 3 and 4 ofthe drawings.

The base equipment upon which the chair body unit is slidably adjusted, includes a pair of longitudinal side runners or base elements 20 each including an ornamental front leg or foot enlargementll and a rear foot enlargement 22. These supporting foot portions 2| and 22 constantly engage the floor, and it is unnecessary for the base elements 20 to partake of any movement incident to the adjustment of the chair to the various tilted positions of which its parts are capable of assuming. See Figures 2 and 5.

In Figure 5 of the drawings I have illustrated one of the base elements dismounted, and from this figure, and Figure 2, it will be apparent that each said element includes a forwardly and downwardly inclined supporting surface 23 disposed intermediately of the ends thereof and terminating forwardly in a rest depression or recess 24, and at its rear end with a rearwardly-down- ,wardly inclined supporting surface 25.

The base elements 20 are received in the chair body unit grooveways 52 as shown in Figures 2 and 4, and the blocks l d of the unit are supported on the element surfaces 23, 24, while the blocks I? rest upon the surfaces 25. By sliding the unit rearwardly from the position shown in Figure 1 the blocks 54 will slide upwardly along the surfaces 23, and the blocks ll downwardly along the surfaces25, tilting the whole rigid unit to the maximum tilt shown in Figure 2 or to any intermediate degree of tilt .desired. The seats 24 will limit sliding movement of the unit in the,

forward direction, and stop members 26 serve to limit movement rearwardly. It will be noted that the surface 23 inclines upwardly and rearwardly and the surface 25 inclines downwardly and rearwardly. The block M and the block I! make sliding frictional contact with these inclinedsurfaces and therefore the body unit may be shifted by a person while seated thereon and no means is necessary for firmly holdingthe body unit of the chair in the position to which it is shifted. The inclined portions 23 and 25 are disposed so that the center of gravity of the body unit and the Weight-of the person sitting on the chair is substantially in a vertical line passing midway through the'points of support of the body on the inclined surfaces. This greatly facilitates the shifting of the body unit to different set positions. Then again, it is noted that the runner extends substantially from the front of the seat frame to the rear thereof and that there is a foot at the front end of each runner and a foot at the rear end of each runner. These feet are always on the floor and are so positioned that when the chair is shifted to the position shown in Figure 1 there is no danger of a forward tiltingrof the chair. In other words, weight is well distributed on four feet, for all positions of the body unit.

Removable pins are insertable through apertures in the rails H and into receiving sockets in the rails 5, one such pin being mounted beneath each base element 28, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. These pins prevent inadvertent removal of the elements out of the grooveways l2 and yet permit the free relative movement betweenthe body unit parts and said elements necessary during adjustments of the chair. It will be observed by reference to Figures 2 and 3 that the enlarged fore foot portions 2| of the elements 2d are receivable in the notches i3 and by this means it is possible to provide attractive heavy appearing leg portions at the front of the chair.

By reason of the provision of the grooveways l2 suitable lateral support for the base'elements is provided and it is unnecessary to join these elements by cross bars or the like. Cross framing may be provided, however, if desired.

Easy chairs of the general character disclosed are of a somewhat personal nature; that is, they are selected to suit individual needs and tastes. A chair selected as extremely comfortable by one individual would not necessarily satisfy another. Thus it is particularly advantageous tohave a chair such as I have disclosed, in which the tiltposition of the body unit can be conveniently 1 efiected with a very limited amount of longitu-q dinal shifting of the body'unit on the baseequip ment, and in a manner rendering impossible precipitous, dangerous tilting of said unit.

In order to avoid all possibility of. the chair body unit tilting forwardly or rockingabout the arcuate blocks I l, byplacement offlthe weight of a user of the chair too far'forwardly, the blocks l6 may be equipped with forward extensions 2t shaped and positioned to overlie and rest upon the portions of the base elements forwardly of the seats 24, as shown in li'igure 6 of the drawings.

What I claim is: a

1. Ida chair, a rigid body unit including a seat frame, arm and back portions; base equip ment including longitudinal supporting elements constantly engaged with the floor; each said element including an upwardly-rearwardly inclined supporting surface midway its length and a similar downwardly-rearwardly inclined'surface at its rear end; fore and aft spaced supporting blocks carried by said body unit and slidably sup-' ported on said surfaces and means for limiting sliding movement of said'blocks along said surfaces, comprising stop members engageable with the foremost blocks at the top of the upwardlyrearwardly inclined surfaces, and rest depressions at the bottom of said upwardly-rearwardly inclined surfaces.

2. In a chair, a rigid body unit including a seat frame, arm and back portions, said frame having longitudinal grooveways formed therein; base equipment including longitudinal supporting elements loosely fittingand laterally supported in said grooveways, said supporting elements extending substantially from the front of the seat frame to the rear thereof and having a foot at the forward and rear end of each supporting element constantlyengaged with the floor; each said element including an upwardly-rearwardly inclined supporting surface midway itslength and a similar downwardly-rearwardly inclined surface at its rear end; and fore and aft spaced'supporting blocks mounted in the grooveways and including arcuate surfaces slidab-ly sup ported on the inclined surfaces of said elements.

3. In a chair, a rigid body unit including a having longitudinal grooveways formed therein; base equipment including longitudinal supporting elements loosely fitting and laterally supported in said grooveways and constantlyengaged seat frame, arm and backportions, said frame. H

with the floor; each said element including an upwardly-rearwardly inclined supporting surface midway its length and a similar downwardlyrearwardly inclined surface at its rear end; fore and aft spaced supporting blocks mounted in the grooveways and including arcuate surfaces s'lidably supported on the inclined surfaces of said elements; and means for limiting sliding movement of said blocks along said inclined surfaces comprising stop members engageable with the foremost blocks at the top of the upwardly-rearwardly inclined surfaces, and rest depressions at the bottom of said upwardly-rearwardly inclined surfaces.

4. In a chair, a rigid body unit including a seat frame, arm and back portions, said frame having longitudinal grooveways formed therein; base equipment including longitudinal supporting elements loosely fitting and laterally supported in said grooveways, said supporting elements extending I substantially from the front of the seat frame to the rear thereof and having a foot at the forward and rear end of each supporting element constantly engaged with the floor; each said element including an upwardlyrearwardly' inclined supporting surface midway its length and a similar downwardly-rearwardly inclined surface at its rear end; and fore and aft spaced supporting blocks mounted in the grooveways and including arcuate surfaces slidably supported on the inclined surfaces of said elements; and means traversing the grooveways beneath the elements to prevent inadvertent removal ofthe elementsiwithout obstructing free relative movement between the elements and the body unit incident to adjustment of the unit positions.

5. In a chair, a rigid body unit including a seat frame, arm and back portions; base equipmerit including longitudinal supporting elements constantly engaged with the floor; each said element'including an upwardly-rearwardly in. clined supporting surface midway its length and a similar downwardly-rearwardly inclined surface at its rear end; fore and aft spaced support,- ing blocks carried by said body unit and slidably supported on said surfaces; and means for limiting slidingmovement of said blocks along said surfaces, comprising stop members engageable with the foremost blocks "at the top of the upwardly-rearwardly inclined surfaces, and rest depressions at the bottom of said upwardly-rearwardly inclined surfaces, and means engageable with the base elements forwardly of said depressions, for preventing forward tipping of the body unit when the foremost blocks are engaged in said depressions.

6. In a chair, a rigid body unit including a seat frame, arm and back portions; base equipment including longitudinal supporting elements constantly engaged with the floor; each said element including an upwardly-rearwardly inclined supporting surface midway its length and a similar downwardly-rearwardly inclined surface at its rear end; fore and aft spaced supporting blocks carried by said body unit and slidably supported on said surfaces; and means for limiting sliding movement of saidblocks along said surfaces, comprising stop members engageable with the foremost blocks at the top of the upwardlyrearwardly inclined surfaces, and rest depressions at the bottom of said upwardly-rearwardly inclined surfaces, and rest extensions projecting forwardly from the foremost blocks and shaped to overlie and engage the base elements forwardly of said depressions when the foremost blocks are in the depressions for preventing forward tipping of the body unit about said foremost blocks. i

'7. In a chair, a rigid body unit including a seat frame, back and arm portions, runners at each side of said seat frame extending substantially from the front of the seat frame to the rear thereof, a supporting foottat the front end of each runner and a supporting foot at the rear end of each runner, each of said runners having an upwardly and rearwardly curved forward portion beginning midway between the forward and rear end of the runner and extending into a rearwardly and downwardly curved portion terminating adjacent the rear end of the runner, means having a sliding frictional contact, respectively, with the upwardly and downwardly curved portions for supporting said body unit and maintaining the same in different tilted positions.

8. In a chair, a rigid body unit including a seat frame, back anclarm portions, runners at each side of the seat frame extending from the front the runners in advance of the upwardly extend- 

